(Image Source: ABC)
BY EVAN BUSH
ANCHOR ANTHONY MARTINEZ
It’s not your average holiday-season-homecoming for three US students en route to their families after being jailed in Egypt. CNN has the story.
“Three American students arrested during protests in Egypt are all expected to be headed home this weekend. They were accused of taking part in sometimes violent protests in Tahrir Square. In fact, Egyptian officials say the students threw Molotov cocktails in the demonstrations. Parents though of at least two of the protesters say they did nothing wrong.”
The students -- who were on exchange programs at American University -- had been jailed for several days. And they wasted no time in leaving Egypt for home. ABC has the details.
“As soon as they were released, they didn’t even come here to pack up their belongings. They went straight to the airport.”
The mother of Derrik Sweeney, one of the students now released, said she was making him a big Thanksgiving meal to come home to.
“I can’t stop...giggling laughing almost wanting to cry at the same time. We’re all just so very grateful. We just want to give him a big hug, get him home, and hold him in our arms.”
The students reportedly didn’t have much choice of staying in Egypt. One of the students’ sister told Georgetown’s school newspaper The Hoya, the three were being, “basically...deported.” The St. Louis Beacon adds.
“U.S. consular officials advised then that it would be unsafe to stay in Egypt, which has been hit by mass demonstrations and political violence in protest of the nation’s military regime.”
The US State Department did send out a warning to Americans abroad, urging them to stay clear of the violence. The BBC reports this has been one of the most violent stretches in the Egyptian protests.
“Dozens of people have died in a week of protests around Cairo's Tahrir Square that have seen some of the worst violence since before the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in February. Protesters are demanding that the military step aside for a swift transition to democratic, civilian rule.”
The US is continuing to advise that Americans steer clear of the protests; here’s the Global Post.
“The US Embassy in Cairo is advising all US citizens to avoid Tahrir Square and the surrounding area, saying it has received reports of "foreigners detained for photographing security forces and unfolding events in Cairo and other cities.”
